JADE
The ring on my finger was the first thing I noticed when my eyes fluttered open.
I still couldn’t get used to the fact that I was wearing his ring and that he was wearing a matching one as well.
It was sitting on my finger, but it still didn’t feel like it belonged to me.
I got ready to visit Meredith.
I had been so caught up in my life that I had not seen her in such a long time.
Roman was covering all the bills already, and I shouldn’t worry, but I couldn’t stop myself.
“Are you off somewhere?”
I stopped in my tracks and slowly turned to Roman.
He was wearing gym clothes with a water bottle in one hand, as the other caught the top of the door frame.
I gulped at the sight before me.
I guessed I was already getting so used to living in the house all alone that I didn’t even realize he was here with me.
This man was my husband—and I still wasn’t used to it.
“I…uh…” My lips parted as I tried to form words and stop focusing on his peeking abs at me.
I closed my eyes, but the image replayed in my head like some kind of tease.
When my eyes flew open at him, he was sipping from the water like this was some kind of advert.
He stared at me, his eyes firm.
“Yes.” I cleared my throat, deciding to keep my eyes on his face instead.
Even though my stomach was still swirling with joy.
“I am going to see my mother.”
“Victoria?” he asked, but even before I could say a word, he seemed to get it.
“Meredith?”
He knew about her?
We had only spoken about her once, and the name stuck.
He paid attention.
More than I expected
“Yeah, I wanted to spend the day with her.”
“I will come with,” he said.
His tone didn’t leave room for negotiations.
“You don’t have to.
” I shook my head.
I could barely keep it together when there was this much space between us.
How was I supposed to last the entire day with him?
He, Meredith, and I were alone in a room?
Sure, what could go wrong?
Aside from Meredith, who would be teasing as much as she could, I would be trying to make it stop, while he would be acting the cold, moody CEO.
I shook my head to drive the thoughts away.
“I can manage by myself,” I added.
He looked at me like he was contemplating.
His eyes were travelling up and down my clothes.
He made me so self-conscious.
I was tugging on the side of my dress.
Was I not dressed to fit his standard?
Why did he get into my head so easily?
“I am coming with you,” he said.
He turned on his heels.
He stood still and turned only his head to me.
“You lived with her for most of your life; it’s only proper I go say hello.”
This wasn’t a request.
It was a decision.
A decision made by him alone.
I couldn’t argue with that logic.
Meredith had been wanting to meet him as well.
I might have pushed it off until the very last moment if I had to.
I guessed it was a good thing to kill two birds with one stone now.
The drive to the hospital was quiet.
For the first time since the night we met, we were alone in the car.
He had dismissed the driver and was driving by himself.
“You can turn on the radio if you like,” he said.
I tried to tell him.
His eyes were focused on the road.
It almost felt surreal.
“It’s fine,” I murmured.
If he were not turning on the radio, then he must hate driving with noise.
Why would I encroach on his space?
“I just want to…ermm…” I cleared my throat and shifted in the seat.
I pulled on the seatbelt that was pressing into my body and tried not to react to his eyes on me.
“…thank you for…helping my mom with her…”
“I never go back on my word.
” He was too cold.
I held myself from rolling my eyes at him.
Did he have to draw the line like that?
I understood he was paying the bills because I married him, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t thank him.
“Right,” I murmured.
I wasn’t thanking a contract.
I was thanking him.
The rest of the ride was silent, with me counting to the millisecond.
We stepped into the hospital room side by side.
I had been reciting the capitals of the countries of the world in my head to stop me from spiraling from his proximity.
The smell of him, which was oud mixed with the smell of his aftershave and some kind of essential oils, made him stand out.
I knew I could pick him out in a crowd.
“Mom!” I rushed to her side as soon as she saw me.
She smiled so brightly, my heart did a little backflip.
I hated seeing her this sick.
She looked so frail.
She didn’t seem like the woman who had given her all to my childhood anymore.
I had to work extra hard so she wouldn’t remain this way.
“You came,” she said, clutching my hand as I helped her into a sitting position.
“Theo just left now,” she added.
“I see.” I nodded with a smile.
Roman stood behind me.
He still had that scary look on his face.
The one that made me want to run away the night we first met.
“And who is this?” Meredith whispered, tugging on my hand.
“This is Roman Volkov,” I gestured to him.
“My husband, I told you about?
Remember?”
“Oh, oh, oh.” She stretched her hand to him.
Roman delayed a second before he moved close and took her hand.
She gripped it, the veins in her hand popping so much with how hard she was gripping.
“You are the one taking care of my little jewel, aren’t you?” she asked, her voice cracked.
She sounded like she was ready to cry.
If only she knew how complicated this really was.
“Hello, Mrs Saint, it is nice to finally meet you,” Roman said as she patted his hand.
“I have been asking her to bring you.
I guess better late than never, right?”
“That would be on me.
I was away on a trip,” he explained.
I blinked to be sure this was the same man I had ridden earlier with.
He seemed different.
I guessed he knew how to put on a good act after all.
“I hope you would take care…”
“Jade is my wife,” he said, and she sniffled, tears lining the corners of her eyes.
“I have to take care of her.”
I climbed into the bed beside her and rubbed her back while murmuring.
“Don’t cry, Mom.”
“I am just so happy that Jade has someone like you,” she said.
She didn’t even know how Roman treated me; she was already singing his praises.
“She’s been through so much,” Meredith continued.
“Even as a child.
I just wanted her to find someone who would take care of her.
After Caius…”
“Mom!” I almost screamed to stop her.
I didn’t need or even want to go down memory lane.
Between Roman and me was only the contract.
Exposing the secrets of my past to him like that was not needed.
He didn’t need to know how badly my heart had been broken before.
“Have you eaten?” I said quickly.
“You silly girl.” She tapped my face gently.
“I am fasting.
The doctors put me on one.”
“Oh, I see,” I nodded.
Taking a deep breath.
I raised my head to Roman, who was still standing there awkwardly without a word.
I got up, so we were standing on the same level.
“I am going to spend the day here with her.
If you have something to do, you can…”
His hand wrapped around my waist as he pulled me closer.
His eyes scanned my face.
I knew we were to play the role of the couple doting on each other to dispel the gay rumours.
We didn’t need to play that game for Meredith.
In reality, she deserved to know the truth.
But the way his hands fit into my waist and the way his eyes gently swept across my face made it almost feel real.
“I have to stay here with you,” he whispered.
“No, you don’t, I can…”
He shook his head and leaned in.
“I will stay.”
Behind me, Meredith made a soft, delighted sound.
Even when he was pretending…
his firmness was still the most dangerously attractive thing about him.